SS14 98 Weather Forecasting Services

The Opportunity This requirement is for Winter Service Weather Forecasting Services within the Highways, Transportation & Waste Directorate (HT&W) which is a division of Kent County Council. The service will also include forecasts for the Medway area.

HT&W has a duty to ensure the effective discharge of the Council's statutory duties and powers as Local Transport & Highway Authority, in particular its duty of care to help ensure safe passage for all road users and the processing and disposal of the household waste. HT&W are not responsible for motorways and trunk roads which are maintained by Highways England (HE).

As a part of its responsibilities, Highway Operations (part of HT&W) delivers a winter service for Kent to meet the Council's statutory responsibility as set out to Section 41(1A of the Highways Act 1980, modified on 31st October 2003 by Section 111 of the Railways and Transport Act 2003 (1A): 'In particular, a highway authority is under a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that safe passage along a highway is not endangered by snow or ice.' (Medway Council has similar responsibilities for the Medway area). In order to deliver a high quality winter service, a bespoke winter road weather forecast is required to enable decision makers to have accurate information to instruct salting action around the county.

Daily forecasts delivered electronically are needed during the winter service period. Winter service activities are costly but efficiencies can be gained with accurate and timely weather information.

Background Kent County Council (the council) is the largest county council in England covering an area of 3,500 square kilometres. It has an annual expenditure of over £900m on goods and services and a population of 1.3m.

The Council provides a wide range of personal and strategic services on behalf of its residents, operating in partnership with 12 district councils and 289 parish/town councils. Further background and technical information can be found within the tender documentation.

Expression of Interest and Tender Process Expressions of interest will only be accepted via the Kent Business Portal. In order to submit your interest in this opportunity please select the 'Login and Express an Interest' button located at the bottom of this page.

Note that in order to successfully submit your interest you will first need to register for an account. After registration is complete and you've received your login details you should return to the advert for the opportunity and express your interest.

You will then be emailed an invitation to submit a tender. Further guidance regarding how to use this portal can be found attached..(view full details to see more)